Red Gold continues to set the highest standards in the tomato canning industry
On a sunny brisk February morning, the AWMA members eagerly awaited at the Red Gold entrance, looking forward to their tour located at the Geneva, Indiana facility.
Established in 1942, Red Gold is a family-owned and operated business making tomato products for over four generations. The company began as a father-and-daughter venture and today has blossomed into a full-time operation with 35 family farm partnerships throughout the Midwest, along with multiple state-of-the-art production facilities like the operations here in Geneva. The company, owned and operated by the Reichart family, remains committed to having the best quality tomatoes, employees, and growers in the tomato canning industry. With over 1,400 employees, the company believes that every worker, whether in management or on the line, plays a vital role in the continued success of Red Gold products.
At the beginning of our tour, we were greeted by Priscilla Garcia, Human Resources Generalist, and Genaro Ramirez, Production Manager at Red Gold. We started our tour by discussing the company’s diverse mix of products, from Red Gold’s featured products, such as pasta sauce, to small-can paste. In addition, our guides talked about the company’s variety of private labels. Ramirez explained that many of their products in glass containers contained a shelf life of over 30 months.
Upon walking through the facility, even though the line was active, we were told that their peak production occurs from August through mid-October. During this period, the facility works 24 hours a day, seven days a week; employees are guaranteed a day off every 7 days. Also, 250 to 300 temporary employees are added to the production line to help meet the company’s goals throughout these months.
Garcia explains that these seasonal employees come from South Texas, and the company supplies apartments for these workers during their two-month stay.
Once the peak production times ramp down, the company prepares machinery and procedures in early November through summer to meet the next season’s rigorous goals. Lean manufacturing techniques are vital to improving various production methods. Ramirez explains, “The owners have invested significant resources in lean manufacturing training, improving many of our production metrics throughout the facility.”
In addition to Red Gold’s lean manufacturing practices, the company understands the importance of environmental regulations. Everything is recycled, and the production process is closely monitored to help ensure unnecessary waste is not disposed of into local landfills.
At Red Gold, efficiency and ingenuity remain at the forefront of the company’s philosophy and production practices. With a focus on partnering with local farmers to find the freshest and premium tomatoes while relying on the company’s dedicated workforce, the future looks bright for Red Gold now and in the next generation.
